Drinking bottle with multiple compartments and replaceable ampoules

ABSTRACT

A drinking bottle ( 100 ) having at east one liquid reservoir ( 120, 140 ), at least one replaceable substrate ampoule ( 200 ) and means for breaking a liquid proof seal ( 206 ) between the substrate ampoule ( 200 ) and the liquid reservoir. The substrate ampoule ( 200 ) comprises a drinking tube ( 210 ) with a distal drinking nipple ( 211 ), where the drinking tube ( 210 ) is disposed axially displaceable in relation to the ampoule ( 200 ) between an inner position where liquid cannot flow from the liquid reservoir ( 120, 140 ) to the interior of the drinking tube ( 210 ), and an outer position where liquid can flow from the liquid reservoir ( 120, 140 ) to the interior of the drinking tube ( 210 ). The drinking bottle ( 100 ) makes t possible to bring along several substrate ampoules ( 200 ) with various contents that can be mixed with liquid from the liquid reservoir ( 120, 140 ). The bottle can also provide doses of liquid. As the drinking tube ( 210 ) is part of the ampoule ( 200 ), problems with cleaning a drinking tube with a drinking valve are avoided. Applications include drinks for sports, administration and dosage of medication etc.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the invention

This invention concerns a drinking bottle with replaceable ampoules.

2. Prior and related art

It is sometimes desirable to mix a powder or liquid concentrate in aliquid. Examples include, but are not limited to, salts, glucose,proteins etc. in a sports drink, medicine in water, medicine inmedicine, chocolate in milk, taste additives and/or alcohol in a drink,etc. WO 2008/102981 A2 and WO 2007/134392 A2 shows examples on how apredetermined amount substrate or concentrate can be contained andsealed in a bottle, i.e. in a ‘substrate ampoule’ without fluidconnection to a volume of liquid in the bottle. The seal can be brokenimmediately before use by a relative motion between the bottle and the‘ampoule’ or substrate chamber. When the seal is broken, the substrateis mixed into a known volume of liquid. The mixture thereby gets a knownconcentration and can be consumed.

For sports and other physical activity it is advantageous to adddifferent substrates in different concentrations depending on activity.For example, there may be a need for different concentrations of sugarand salts during training than during a competition or restitution. Insuch cases, it is desirable to have several premeasured substrate dosesthat can be mixed into known volumes of liquid.

Additionally, for a number of sports activities it is in additionadvantageous to be able to administer the amount of liquid. For example,it is advantageous to be able to drink a known amount of liquid with aknown content at known intervals in marathon races, bicyclecompetitions, cross country skiing competitions and other endurancesports.

Further, during physical activities it is advantageous to use bottleswith a drinking valve, hereinafter ‘drinking bottles’ for simplicity.Such bottles have a drinking nipple that can be pulled out axially alongthe main axis of the bottle using the teeth and one hand. When thedrinking nipple is pulled out, two concentric tubes are displacedaxially so that radially extending openings in the tubes become alignedand opens for a flow of liquid from the interior of the bottle to thedrinking nipple. The bottle is closed by pushing the drinking nippleback to its initial position.

One problem with such known drinking bottles is that they have onechamber, and thus in principle can contain one liquid mixture at a time.This mixture can in principle be replaced with a premixed drink whenrequired. In this case, the user must bring along a number of premixedmixtures if he or she desires different drinks adapted to the boy'sneeds e.g. before, during and after training, before, during and after acompetition, etc. Alternatively, the user can bring along a number ofbags of powder and mix the correct bag for each purpose in water beforeuse. If the amount of powder or concentrate is not adapted to the volumeof the drinking bottle, the powder or concentrate must also be weighedor dosed before use in order to obtain desired concentration of thedifferent substances.

Hence, it is desirable to combine the said ampoules containing apredetermined substrate with a drinking bottle of the type with apull-out drinking nipple.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,150,369 B1 describes a baby bottle with two chambers,wherein the first chamber is a conventional bottle with a reservoir ofliquid and the second chamber contains breast-milk substitute orsubstrate. The substrate chamber is screwed onto the top of the bottle,and a conventional cap with a baby nipple is in turn screwed onto thesubstrate chamber. A valve between the reservoir of liquid and thesubstrate chamber controls the amount of liquid that is being let intothe substrate chamber. This patent thus combine a substrate chamber anda reservoir of liquid, but it does not satisfy the need for severalampoules with different substrates or the need for administering dosesof liquid.

Another problem with known drinking bottles of the type with a pull-outdrinking nipple is cleaning of the drinking tube. The drinking valvecomprises, as mentioned above, typically two concentric plastic tubesthat are displaced relative to each other by an axial motion. Thisdrinking valve is typically permanently disposed on a threaded cap whichis unscrewed whenever the bottle is to be filled.

and the same drinking tube is thus used in essentially the entirelifetime of the bottle. The annular space between the tubes is difficultto access for cleaning, but can give good conditions for growth foralgae, bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms, which have an abundantaccess to water, minerals, glucose and other nutrients from the drink(s)that are, or have been, in the bottle.

There are also known ampoules containing filters and/or other means toremove microorganisms and contamination from water. In some contexts itwill be desirable to use such an ampoule in combination with a reservoirof liquid in order to avoid infections and/or poisoning. It should beunderstood that ‘substrate’ here and in the claims is meant to comprisefilters and/or other means for water purification for such ampoules.

One problem intended to be solved by the present invention is thus toprovide an improved drinking bottle where different prescriptions can beprovided for different needs.

A second problem intended to be solved by the invention is a need foradministering an amount of liquid to the user.

A third problem intended to be solved is to provide a drinking bottlewith the advantages of the bottles from prior art, but having reducedrequirements for cleaning drinking tubes.

A fourth problem intended to be solved it to offer the user a drink withdesired quality, both regarding concentration of contents in the drinkand with respect to absence of microorganisms and other contamination.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These problems are solved according to the invention by providing adrinking bottle having at east one liquid reservoir, at least onereplaceable substrate ampoule and means for breaking a liquid proof sealbetween the substrate ampoule and the liquid reservoir, distinguished inthat the substrate ampoule comprises a drinking tube with a distaldrinking nipple, where the drinking tube is disposed axiallydisplaceable in relation to the ampoule between an inner position whereliquid cannot flow from the liquid reservoir to the interior of thedrinking tube, and an outer position where liquid can flow from theliquid reservoir to the interior of the drinking tube.

The invention also comprises a method for providing a liquid withdesired quality in a drinking bottle for consumption, distinguished bydisposing at least one replaceable substrate ampoule in the drinkingbottle, filling at least one liquid reservoir with a desired liquid,opening a seal between a substrate ampoule and the liquid reservoir andpulling a drinking tube out of the ampoule.

The substrate ampoule can contain additives to be mixed in a liquid to aknown concentration or a filter and/or other water purification means.The bottle can advantageously comprise a top part with room for severalreplaceable ampoules that can be opened towards a mixing chamber oneafter another. The bottle can also comprise several reservoir chambersfor dosing amounts of liquid or for different liquids. As the drinkingtube is part of a replaceable ampoule the problems of cleaning apermanent drinking tube are avoided.

Other features and advantages of the invention are disclosed by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail in the following withreference to the accompanying drawings, where similar reference numeralsdenote elements with same or similar function, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a first embodiment of thedrinking bottle;

FIG. 2 shows the drinking bottle in FIG. 1 viewed from above;

FIG. 3 illustrates a replaceable substrate ampoule according to theinvention:

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of thedrinking bottle;

FIG. 5 shows the drinking bottle in FIG. 4 viewed from above;

FIG. 6 is a cross section through the bottle at line VI-VI on FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a section through the lower part of the bottle in FIG. 4with the bottom rotated 90°;

FIG. 8 is a cross section through the bottle at line VIII-VIII on FIG.7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of thedrinking bottle;

FIGS. 10 a and b are schematic views of a first check valve;

FIGS. 11 a and b are schematic views of a second check valve;

FIGS. 12 a-d shows a fourth embodiment of the drinking bottle;

FIGS. 13 a-f illustrate a method for use of the drinking bottle in FIG.4:

FIG. 14 is a section through a preferred embodiment of the ampoule;

FIGS. 15 a-b shows the ampoule in FIG. 14 during filling of substrate;

FIGS. 16 a-c illustrates an ampoule ready for deployment in a drinkingbottle;

FIG. 17 shows the ampoule in FIGS. 14-16 with extended drinking tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures are schematic views, and numerous details are omitted forthe sake of clarity.

The bottle 100 can advantageously be manufactured from a form stablethermoplastic which is easily moulded and welded, and which does noteasily break or deform during use, e.g. polypropylene (PP).Alternatively, other materials can be used when it is more suitable forthe intended use, e.g. metal, glass and/or other materials. Othersuitable materials comprise aluminium and aluminium alloys which arerelatively simple to extrude.

Similarly, a form stable thermoplastic is preferred for the main body ofthe replaceable ampoule. PP combined with thermoplastic elastomers (TPE)are preferred as disclosed in greater detail below. Such plasticampoules can be recycled after use as other plastic waste.Alternatively, an ampoule with medication can be made of glass, whereasa variety of the ampoule for sports use can be made from cardboard. Athird variety can be made of metal and contain a filter for waterpurification. Other choices of material and other contents in theampoules can be imagined, but are not described in detail herein.

Here, a bottle and ampoule of PP and TPE are described sufficiently toenable one skilled in the art to exercise the invention. However, othermaterials can be employed as disclosed above. It is left to the skilledperson to choose materials, and to assemble the bottle and ampoule in asuitable manner depending on choice of material.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a drinking bottle, generallyindicated by 100. The drinking bottle has a body 101 with one or morereservoir chambers 120. 120 a and a top part 150 with a mixing chamber140. The chambers 120 and 140 are collectively denoted ‘liquidreservoirs’ in the following and in the claims. The mixing chamber 140is in FIG. 1 disposed within the top part 150 so that the reservoirchambers 120, 120 a in the main part of the bottle can be filled to thetop before the top part 150 with mixing chamber 140 is screwed onto thebottle. Thus, when the top part 150 is screwed onto the bottle, themixing chamber contains air. The mixing chamber 140 has a volumecorresponding to the contents of a replaceable substrate ampoule 200with an integrated drinking tube 210. A seal at the opening 205 preventscontact between the content of the ampoule and the content of liquidreservoirs 120, 140 until the seal is broken.

In a preferred embodiment the seal is broken by moving a part of theampoule, e.g. the drinking tube, relative to the liquid reservoir asdisclosed in greater detail below. Once the seal is broken, thesubstrate can flow from the ampoule 200 to the mixing chamber 140. Inthe embodiment on FIG. 1, the air from the mixing chamber 140 canreplace the substrate from the ampoule 200, and it is hence presupposedthat the opening between the ampoule 200 and the mixing chamber 140allows air to flow into the ampoule when the seal is broken.

Liquid from the reservoir chamber 120 can be let into the mixing chamber140 through an opening that, if desirable, can be provided with a checkvalve (not shown) Such a valve can allow liquid to flow from thereservoir chamber 120 to the mixing chamber 140, and prevent liquid fromflowing back. Thereby, mixing chamber 140 can be used to measure anamount of liquid and to mix a liquid with desired concentration of thesubstrate from the ampoule 200. The mixed liquid can then be conductedfrom the mixing chamber 140 through a drinking valve to the interior ofdrinking tube 210 and be consumed.

It is to be understood that the content from substrate ampoule 200alternatively can be let into another liquid reservoir, e.g. reservoirchamber 120 or 120 a in FIG. 1, and that one still obtains a knownamount of liquid with a known concentration. This is described ingreater detail in connection with FIGS. 4-8 below. The ampoule 200 isalso described in greater detail below.

FIG. 2 shows the drinking bottle in FIG. 1 seen from above. Line I-I inFIG. 2 indicates where the longitudinal section in FIG. 1 is done. Thetop part 150 of the bottle has room for several replaceable ampoules200, which advantageously can be shaped as pie slices such as indicatedby crossing dotted lines through the centre of the circle illustratingthe bottle viewed from above. The replaceable substrate ampoules arepreferably sealed or covered on their topmost sides before use. This isillustrated by rendering the ampoules not in use by dotted lines. Theampoule at the right hand side, which is shown by solid lines in FIG. 2,corresponds to the ampoule 200 in FIG. 1 where the drinking tube 210 ispulled out. This ampoule has a flexible bellow 220 attached to thedrinking tube 210 which prevents liquid from passing on the outside ofthe drinking tube 210, and which prevents contamination from enteringthe bottle. The top part 150 is rotatable disposed on the body 101 ofthe bottle, so that the ampoules 200 can be rotated into position overan opening in the mixing chamber 140 in sequence.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a substrate ampoule 200 having a firmshell 201, pulled out drinking tube 210 and an elastic bellow 220. Anopening towards the liquid reservoir is disposed in the bottom of theampoule, and is not shown in the figure. The hole 207 is used to fillsubstrate during production. The drinking nipple 211 on the distal endof the drinking tube 210 can, if desirable, be made of or lined with asofter elastomer that feels more comfortable in contact with the teeththan relatively harder PP. If price is at a premium, it will be lessexpensive to manufacture the drinking nipple from the same material asthe drinking tube, e.g. PP.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the bottle 100 wherein the mixing chamber140 is disposed within the body 101 of the bottle, and wherein moredetails are shown. A bottom part 110 is rotatable disposed in the bottomof the bottle. The bottom part 110 has a channel 130 with a chambervalve 135. The channel 130 extends between the reservoir chamber 120 andthe mixing chamber 140. When the channel 130 and chamber valve 135 areopen, as shown in FIG. 4, water can flow from the reservoir chamber 120to the mixing chamber 140. Water leaving the reservoir chamber 120 is inthis case replaced with air entering the reservoir chamber 120 through afirst air inlet valve 125. The valve 125 must be capable of letting inair from the surroundings, and should prevent liquid from the reservoirchamber 120 from flowing out through the valve 125. The air inlet valve125 in the reservoir chamber 120 can be a check valve of any type knownin the art, e.g. an elastic sheet or membrane partly attached to theinside of an opening in the body 101 similar to the valve 147illustrated in the FIGS. 11 a and b below.

The mixing chamber 140 is in a similar manner provided with a second airinlet valve 145 capable of letting in air while the user drinks liquidfrom the mixing chamber 140 through a drinking tube 210, and an airoutlet valve 147 capable of letting out air when liquid is transferredfrom the reservoir chamber 120. The valves 145 and 147 can also be ofany suitable type capable of letting out air when the user drinks mixedliquid from the mixing chamber 140 and lets out air when liquid istransferred from the liquid reservoir 120 to the mixing chamber 140, andwhich prevents liquid from leaving unintentionally. See e.g. thedescription of valve 125 above and the FIGS. 11 a and 11 b. The airoutlet valve 147 can additionally be connected to a water trap or otherknown device preventing liquid from leaving, but which allows air or gasto pass through. If an elastic sheet contacts the liquid in chambers 120and/or 140, the sheet must of course be made of a material that does notadd taste or smell, and which does not contaminate the contents in otherways.

The mixing chamber 140 is further provided with a receiving unit 108 foran ampoule 200. In the preferred embodiment, the sealing between theampoule 200 and the mixing chamber 140 is an integrated part of theampoule 200. The receiving device can in this embodiment be a hole.Alternatively, the receiving device must be capable of preventing theconcentrate in the ampoule 200 from flowing out, or is unintentionallymixed in the liquid from the reservoir chamber 120.

A drink or liquid containing certain substances with predeterminedconcentrations hence can be provided by mixing a suitable concentratefrom the ampoule 200 with pure water or another known solvent from thereservoir chamber 120 in the mixing chamber 140. The blend or mixturecan then be drunk from the mixing chamber 140 through the drinking tube210. In order to prevent liquid from unintentionally flowing out throughthe drinking tube 210, e.g. when the concentrate from the ampoule 200 ismixed with liquid from the reservoir chamber 120 or when the bottle isagitated during use, the drinking tube is provided with a drinkingvalve. The drinking valve comprises two concentric tubes, of which atleast one has radially extending openings as described above. Thedrinking tube 210 is disposed on an ampoule 200 as described below.

FIG. 5 is a view of the embodiment in FIG. 4 seen from above, whereampoules 200, 200 a and 200 b are intermediately stored in the top part150, and corresponds to FIG. 2. The ampoules can have the same ordifferent contents, e.g. for use before, under and after training. Thetop part can also have storage rooms for more or fewer ampoules 200, andone or more storage rooms can be empty. The top part 150 can, ifdesirous, be provided with a lid 151, e.g. as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,and the top part 150 in FIG. 5 is not necessarily rotatable as describedin connection with FIG. 2.

A receiving device 108 which can selectively be fluidly connected withthe interior of an ampoule 200 is preferably disposed near the bottom ofat least one such room for ampoule(s) 200. The meaning of ‘selectivefluid connection’ as used herein, is that the ampoule can be placed overthe receiving device 108 and remain intact for a period. The fluidconnection is only established when the user wants to, and can beestablished by e.g. pressing or screwing the ampoule into position suchthat a tip or tube penetrates a membrane. Alternative embodiments cancomprise a card board or aluminium foil which is torn away from anopening or the like, and will be known to one skilled in the art. Itshould be possible to close the fluid connection between the mixingchamber and the interior of the ampoule when ampoule 200 is changed. Thereceiving device 108 may for this purpose be provided with a checkvalve, e.g. similar to the one shown in FIGS. 10 a and b. In such anembodiment a tip will typically push in the ball 133 when the ampoule200 is in position and a spring 137 push the ball against a valve seat131 so that the ball 133 seals when the ampoule 200 is removed from heholder or receiving device 108 and the said tip hence is retracted.

In some embodiments, a seal between the ampoule 200 and the mixingchamber 140 can be broken when the drinking tube 210 is pulled out. Ifthe drinking tube is provided with a drinking valve comprising anaxially displaceable sleeve as described above, the drinking tube shouldbe pushed back while the bottle is shaken or agitated in order toprevent fluid from the mixing chamber 140 to flow unintentionally outthrough the drinking tube 210. In other words, the mixing chamber canselectively be fluidly connected to a drinking tube 210 via a drinkingvalve 202, such that the drinking valve 202 prevents liquid, concentrateor powder from leaving y\the mixing chamber unintentionally when thebottle is agitated in order to mix concentrate and liquid from thereservoir chamber 120, or when the bottle 100 is agitated while the useris in physical activity and brings along the bottle.

The top part 150 can be rotatable attached to the body 101 so that thetwo parts can be rotated relative to each other about the main axis ofthe body or bottle. The user can then rotate a new ampoule 200 inposition over a receiving device 108 without having to open a top lid151 or taking substrate ampoule(s) 200, 200 a out of their respectivestorage rooms and/or the receiving device 108 such as described inconnection with FIG. 5 above. Such an embodiment can facilitatereplacement of an ampoule 200 to a new ampoule 200 a. In an embodimentwith rotatable top part 150, as shown in FIG. 2, it will be advantageousto design the said storage rooms in the top pert 150 such that thebottom of the said storage rooms is comprised by a lid over thereservoir chamber 120 and the mixing chamber 140. The ampoule canthereby be rotated over the receiving device 108 over the mixing chamber140 in turn, and be rotated away from the receiving device 108 when thecontents of the ampoule is emptied into the mixing chamber 140.

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the bottle along the line VI-VI in FIG.4. In FIGS. 4 and 6 the channel 130 forms a fluid connection between anopening 121 in the bottom of the reservoir chamber 120 and an opening141 in the bottom of the mixing chamber 140. The openings 121 and 141are fro the sake of clarity shown as circular holes having the samediameter as the channel 130, but both the holes 121, 141 and the channel130 can of course be shaped differently. In the channel 130 on FIGS. 4,6 and 9, a check valve 135 is disposed to ensure liquid flow from thereservoir chamber 120 to the mixing chamber 140, but not in the oppositedirection. The FIGS. 13 a-f shows an embodiment without a check valve inthe channel 130. In this embodiment, the channel 130 must be opened andclosed manually before and after the mixing chamber 140 is filled withliquid from the reservoir chamber 120.

It should be understood that the channel 130 alternatively could be apart of the body 101 and that a rotatable bottom part 110 can haveplates or other means capable of closing the fluid connection throughthe channel 130. In both cases, a rotatable bottom part 110 is used toclose the channel manually.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the valve 135 is a loose ballwithin a cylindrical channel chamber coaxial with the channel 130. Thechannel chamber in FIG. 4 has a greater diameter than the channel 130.The channel 130 thus forms two circular openings in the end walls of thechamber. The first opening, leading to the reservoir chamber 120, isopen and can form a valve seat for the ball. When the bottle 100 isshaken, the ball will thereby be able to seal against this firstopening, and prevent flow of liquid from the mixing chamber 140 past theball into the channel 130 towards the reservoir chamber 120. The otheropening, in the opposite end of the channel chamber, leads into thechannel in the direction towards the mixing chamber 140. This secondopening is covered with a grid or the like, preventing the ball fromclosing the opening and yet allowing fluid to flow past. When the bottleis agitated or inclined, liquid can thus flow from the reservoir chamber120 to the mixing chamber 140, but not in the opposite direction.However, when the bottle is at rest, liquid can flow in both directionthrough the channel 130 between the reservoir chamber 120 and the mixingchamber 140. In order to prevent already mixed liquid from flowing fromthe mixing chamber 140 to the reservoir chamber 120, the channel 130must be manually closable in this embodiment. An alternative check valvewith a spring biased ball is described in greater detail in connectionwith the FIGS. 9 and 10 below.

FIG. 7 is a section along the line VII-VII on FIG. 8, and FIG. 8 is across section along the line VIII-VIII on FIG. 7. FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate that the bottom part 110 in one embodiment can be rotated sothat the channel 130 no longer connects the opening 121 in the reservoirchamber 120 with the opening 141 in the mixing chamber 140. A rotatablebottom part 110 as shown in the FIGS. 7 and 8 thereby closes the channel130, and can be regarded as a second chamber valve closing the fluidflow through the channel 130 between the two chambers 120 and 140. If afirst chamber valve, e.g. the check valve 135 described above, does notseal adequately, a second chamber valve can hence be provided forpermanently or manually closing the channel 130 between the chambers 120and 140. Embodiments with several liquid reservoirs, e.g. a reservoirchamber 120 and a mixing chamber 140, thus advantageously have at leastone chamber valve in order to ensure that already mixed drinking liquidfrom the mixing chamber 140 is mixed with water from the reservoirchamber 120. This at least one chamber valve can be a check valve 135and/or a manual valve such as the rotatable bottom part 110 opening andclosing the fluid connection between the reservoir chamber 120 and themixing chamber 140.

FIG. 9 shows the lower part of an alternative embodiment of the drinkingbottle 100, in which a check valve 135 with a biased ball closes thechannel 130. A schematic view of the check valve 135 is shown in FIGS.10 a and b. In FIG. 9, the check valve 135 prevents liquid from flowingfrom the mixing chamber 130 to the reservoir chamber 120, such that thecan be a difference in the liquid levels, indicated by Δh, even when thebottle is at rest. In this embodiment it is thus not necessary toprovide a rotatable bottom part 110 or second chamber valve in order toprevent liquid from flowing back from the mixing chamber. The embodimentshown in FIG. 9 can be manufactured with a flexible chamber 120. Thisflexibility can be provided by manufacturing a thinner chamber wall inthe embodiment made of PP. When the chamber wall is pressed in, e.g. asindicated by the broken line 122, the pressure within chamber 120 isincreased. If the resulting force F due to a positive difference ofpressure between the chambers 120 and 140 (see FIGS. 10 a and b) isgreater than the spring force F_(s) in the check valve 135, liquid willflow from the reservoir chamber 120 through the channel 130 to themixing chamber 140. The air that is thereby displaced from the mixingchamber 140, is let out through an air outlet valve 147, for example ofthe type shown in FIGS. 11 a and b, which in turn can be connected to aconvoluted passage, a water trap or other known device which preventsliquid from leaving the chamber 140 together with the displaced air.

FIG. 10 a is a detailed schematic view of the channel valve 135 in FIG.6. The main parts are a ball 133 biased by a spring 137 against a seat131 in the direction from the mixing chamber 140 towards the reservoirchamber 120. The seat 131 is in this embodiment formed by the outlet ofchannel 130 in an end wall of a concentric channel chamber of the typedescribed above in connection with FIG. 4. The force from the spring 137on the ball 133 follows from Hooke's law:

F _(s) =−kx   (1)

where:

-   the negative sign means that the force works from right to left in    the FIGS. 7 a and 7 b,-   k is the spring constant, and-   x is compression of the spring, which if desired can be regulated by    moving a locking ring 139 to the right or left on the figure.

In the springless variety of chamber valve 135 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6,the spring 137 would be absent from FIG. 10 a, and reference number 139in FIG. 10 a would indicate a grid preventing the opening towards themixing chamber from functioning similar to the valve seat 131, and thuspreventing liquid from flowing towards the mixing chamber 140.

In FIG. 9, a pressure difference is shown between the chambers 120 and140:

Δp=ρg Δh   (2)

where the pressure difference Δp>0 when the pressure in the reservoirchamber 120 is greater than the pressure in the mixing chamber 140,

-   ρ is the density of water (1000 kg/m³),-   g is the acceleration of gravity (9,81 m/s²), and-   Δh is the positive difference of levels shown in FIG. 6.

Such a pressure difference can be maintained when the force from thespring on the ball is greater than the force resulting from the pressuredifference working on the working area of the valve seat.

The valve 135 in FIG. 9 is depicted in greater detail in FIG. 10 a. Ifthe valve seat 131 in FIG. 10 a has a circular opening with radius r,the pressure difference Δp works on an area A=πr². This gives a netforce F from the left towards the right on the ball 133 as shown in FIG.10 b:

F=Δp·πr ²   (3)

Hence, in order to achieve a liquid flow from the reservoir chamber 120to the mixing chamber 140, must F >−F_(s), i.e.

ρgΔh·πr ² >−F _(s)   (4)

From the discussion above, it follows:

-   a) If the channel 130 is not provided with a chamber valve 135, the    contents of mixing chamber 140 is able to flow into the reservoir    chamber 120 and produce unintentional mixing of    substrate/concentrate and water.-   b) If the chamber valve 135 is provided with a spring 137 having a    spring force t F_(s)>0, the spring force can be overcome by    inclining the bottle unless the spring force is too large. This is    an embodiment requiring the channel 130 between the chambers 120 and    140 to be closed by other means when the bottle is in use. See e.g.    FIGS. 4-8, where the channel can be closed by rotating the bottom    part 110 so that the end points of the channels do not align with    one or both openings 121 and 141 in the chambers 120 and 140    respectively.-   c) An increased pressure difference Δp can be provided by reducing    the volume of a flexible reservoir chamber 120, e.g. as indicated by    the broken line 122 in FIG. 9. From the equations 1 and 3 above, it    is possible to adapt k, x and r such that liquid can be pumped from    the reservoir chamber 120 to the mixing chamber 140. It is of course    also possible to provide a rotatable bottom part 110 of the type    described above as an extra safety measure even in this embodiment.    In a preferred embodiment of the pumping variety, the radius r of    the working area as large as possible, such that the pressure    increase Δp needed to overcome the spring force F_(s) becomes as    small as possible. (See equation 3). At the same time, the bottom    part should not be too thick. This limits the area of the channel    130. In the embodiment on FIGS. 9 and 10, the working area is    defined by the channel 130. This is assumed to be a reasonable    compromise between a desire for a large working area for the    pressure from the reservoir chamber 120 and a compact design which    implies a correspondingly smaller working area.

I should be understood that valves and a flexible bottle wall also canbe used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3, e.g. by affixing aflexible membrane over the opening between the reservoir chamber 120 andmixing chamber 140 in FIG. 1. The opening between the two liquidreservoirs thus corresponds to the channel 130 in FIG. 4. Moreover, isshould be understood that a rotatable bottom part 110 with a channel 130can be adapted to several reservoir chambers 120, 120 a.

EXAMPLE

Assume that the drinking bottle 100 initially has a reservoir chamber120 with 8 dl water and a mixing chamber with 2 dl air. The wall of thereservoir chamber 120 is pressed inwards, and the volume is reduced by 1dl. This causes 1 dl water to pass through channel 130 and valve 135 tothe mixing chamber 140, and some air flows out through valve 147. Thepressure of the air above the water in mixing chamber 1 depends on the“spring force” from the valve 147. In other words, a certainoverpressure Δp over the pressure of the atmosphere is required to openthe valve 147 and release air to the ambient atmosphere.

Thereafter, the user releases the wall of reservoir chamber 120 and letit return to the starting position. In this phase, air flows into thereservoir chamber 120 through the air intake valve 125. It is desirablethat the chamber valve returns completely to the initial position, andthe “spring tensioning” in the air intake valve 125 therefore should becorrespondingly small.

Next time the user presses in the chamber wall, some work is used toincrease the pressure of the air in reservoir chamber 120, whereas theremaining work is used to overcome the spring forces from the valves 135and 147. As described above, the force F on the ball 133 increases withthe working area. The working area is in the embodiment shown equal tothe area of a cross section of the channe 1130. Other embodiments withlarger or smaller working areas can be imagined.

In the foregoing example, spring force, working area for pressure andthe properties of the bottle wall can be adapted to each other such thatthe user experiences a firm response to his pressing without using toomuch force.

The pumping variety is also suitable in applications where the amount ofliquid should be measured as dosages, e.g. when administeringmedicaments. When measuring a dosage of a therapeutic mixture, e.g.cough mixture, the mixing chamber can have a volume of e.g. 2 or 5 ml,and be filled with, e.g., one push on a flexible bottle wall or apiston. The bottle wall or cylinder volume can be adapted such that theuser gets a firm feedback when the mixing chamber 140 is filled, and canfurther be adapted such that the wall or piston cannot be depressed morethan accurately filling the mixing chamber 140. Thereby it can beavoided that liquid is unintentionally pressed out through the airoutlet valve 147.

FIGS. 11 a and 11 b shows a valve 147 comprising a flexible sheet ormembrane 146 over an opening 102 in the body 101. The sheet 146 ispartly affixed to the body 101, and closes the opening 102 when anelastic force (spring force) F₂>p₁·A, where A is the area of opening102. Alternatively: The valve 147 is closed when the pressure difference

Δρ<F₂ /A   (5)

where positive pressure difference is in the direction from the body 101towards the sheet 146, In FIG. 11 b a positive pressure difference Δp=p₂is shown, which is sufficiently large to overcome the spring force F₂from the elastic sheet 146. The sheet 146 will then be lifted from thebase 101, such that air can pass through the opening 102. The air flowis illustrated by arrow 148 in FIG. 11 b.

In a valve 147 that is to release air, the sheet must be disposed on theoutside of the body 101. A similar device with a sheet 146 on the insideof openings 102 can be used in the air inlet valves 125 and 145 in thechambers 120 and 140. In both cases a sufficiently large overpressure inthe direction from a base in the direction towards the sheet 146 causethe valve to open, whereas the valve will be closed when the pressuredifference is less than a limit value F₂/A, which depends solely onparameters of the valve.

The valves 125, 145 and 147 can also be modelled as the valve 135 inFIGS. 10 a and 10 b, and the equations 1-4 can be used to selectsuitable materials and designs. It is emphasized that material cominginto contact with the drink should not produce poisonous, harmful orhazardous materials.

The FIGS. 12 a-d show an alternative embodiment of the drinking bottle100 with concentric chambers 120 and 140, wherein the mixing chamber 140has less diameter than the reservoir chamber 120. A top part 150 can bescrewed off for simple filling of the reservoir chamber 120. The toppart 150 has a hinged lid 151. The top part 150 can if desirable beprovided with a drinking tube that is not part of the ampoule 200.

FIGS. 13 a-f illustrate a method for use of the drinking bottle 100 inFIG. 4. FIG. 13 a shows a drinking bottle 100 as in the embodiment onFIGS. 4 and 6, where the top part 150 is removed. The reservoircontainer 120 is filled with water, and the top part 150 is screwed on.FIG. 13 b shows that one or more ampoules 200 can be disposed insuitable rooms in the top part 150. A hinged lid 151 can be closed overthe ampoules 200 in order to retain them. FIG. 13 c sows an ampoule 200positioned above a receiving device 108. The ampoule 200 is stillunbroken. The bottom part 110 is rotated to the position shown in FIG.13 d, where a channel 130 connects an opening 121 in the reservoirchamber 120 with an opening 141 in the mixing chamber 140. The bottle100 can now be inclined, such that water flows from the reservoirchamber 120 to the mixing chamber 140. When the mixing chamber 140 isfilled, the channel 130 is closed as shown in FIG. 13 e. In FIG. 13 fthe drinking tube 210 is pulled out of the ampoule 200. This mechanicalmovement also causes concentrate from the ampoule 200 to be releasedinto the mixing chamber 140, which contains a known amount of water oranother liquid. When the bottle is agitated, concentrate will be mixedwith the liquid in the mixing chamber 140, thereby providing a liquidmixture with predetermined concentrations of known substances. Asindicated in FIG. 13 f, there is still sufficient liquid in thereservoir chamber 120 to repeat the procedure with another ampoule 200a.

FIG. 14 is a section through the ampoule 200 in FIG. 3. The ampoule 200comprises a relatively stiff shell 201 with a bottom part 201 a and atop part 201 b joined by welding to provide a fluid tight joint 201 c.The lower part 201 a and upper part 201 b of the container can beinjection moulded and of a form stable plastic, for example polypropylene (PP). The drinking tube 210 is axially slidably disposed in aguide 260, which is connected to the bottom part of the shell. It shouldbe understood that the drinking tube 210 alternatively could be disposedslidably and sealingly in or around a valve sleeve with radial openingsso that liquid can flow through the radial openings when the drinkingtube is in an outer position, and so that liquid cannot flow through theradial openings when the drinking tube is in an inner I position. Such aconventional sliding sleeve valve is well known to one skilled in theart, and can be used instead of or in addition to the drinking valvediscussed below.

The drinking tube 210 and the upper part 201 b of the shell of theampoule are connected by an elastic membrane or bellow 220 moulded froma suitable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The moulding process for theintegrated lid 201 b, 220 is called two-component (2C) moulding.

The lower part 201 a of the ampoule has a section 206 at the bottom 203with reduced thickness so that one by applying a certain pressure on thedrinking tube 210 is able to press a hole in 205 in the bottom, andthereby open the container such that the contents can be emptied into amixing chamber 140 or some of the liquid reservoir in 120 in the bottle100 (FIGS. 1 and 4). It should be understood that the seal 206alternatively can be broken, i.e. the hole 205 be opened, by pulling thedrinking tube away from the bottom part 201 a without pushing it first,and/or in that the seal 206 is a lid that can be removed from a hole 205by moving the drinking tube 210. The seal 206 with reduced thickness canbe a foil that is welded or glued over the opening 205, and any meansknown in the art transferring force through the drinking tube 210 tobreak a seal 206, i.e. open the hole 205, can be used with theinvention.

I the figures, a separate filling hole 207 is shown in the bottom forinjection of substrate as part of the manufacturing process. This holeis then sealed with a diffusion tight foil, e.g. a foil of plastic oraluminium which is welded or glued over the opening. It should beunderstood that the holes 205 and 207 can be the same hole, i.e. thatthe ampoule is filled through the opening 205, which then is sealed witha foil.

FIGS. 15 a and b show a mounted and welded ampoule ready for injectionof substrate or concentrate through the hole 207 at the left in thefigures. FIG. 15 a shows the bottom part of the ampoule in FIG. 14. InFIG. 15 b, the ampoule is positioned with its bottom part up, and can befilled with a substrate through the opening 207.

FIGS. 16 a-c illustrate an ampoule ready for sale. The ampoule is inthis case provided with a protective foil 230 over the top, and aprotective foil 231 over the bottom. The protecting foils 230, 231 canbe made of plastic or aluminium that is welded or glued over theampoule, and that can be easily removed before use.

In use, the protective foils 230, 231 are torn off the ampoule 200before it is deployed in an adapted space, where the ampoule has adefined space with support on its outer faces and bottom face, e.g. inthe top part 150 of a drinking bottle as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The central part of the bottom of the ampoule then abuts a concentricseal 108 sealing between the bottom 203 of the ampoule and the circularbottom face which is torn out of the ampoule when the drinking tube ispressed downwards. When the bottom is penetrated, a continued pressurewill ensure an opening that is large enough to allow the contents of theampoule to flow down into the liquid reservoir in the bottle.

Once the ampoule is emptied, the drinking tube can be pulled out to anupper position, where the TPE-membrane is reversed and has obtained anew “stable” position.

FIG. 17 show the ampoule from FIGS. 14 and 15 b with the drinking tubein its outer position. On FIG. 17, the drinking tube 210 is locked tothe seal/lid 206 by means of a snap lock. This ensures that the seal206, which is torn from the ampoule during opening or puncture, does notfall into the bottle. The guide 260 has openings 261 in the sidewall toensure that as little substrate as possible remains in the ampoule whenit is emptied into the bottle, and that the ampoule is well drained whenthe bottle is being drunk from.

Stoppers, e.g. radial lugs abutting a radially extending shoulder,limits the axial movement of the drinking tube 210 in the valve sleeve.Thereby, the drinking tube 210 can be pulled out to a maximum distancefrom the bottom part 203 of the shell, but not further. The view showshow the nipple stops in its outer position.

Longitudinal guiding slots or guides (as shown in the tubular guide 260)rotation locks the drinking tube 210 relative to the valve sleeve, andridges/grooves in the circumferential direction of the drinking tube andvalve sleeve ensure that the user gets a tactile feedback when thedrinking tube is in an outer position (open drinking valve), and whenthe drinking tube is in an inner position (closed valve).

The drinking nipple 211 can be closed (sealed) by application of a lightpush inwards (downwards in FIG. 17). The valve seals, but is not pushedentirely past the locking groove, This provides for an easieropening/closing when the bottle does not require a full sealing. Inorder to lock the nipple better, for example during transport, thenipple can be pressed harder in on the drinking tube such that the snaplock is activated as shown on the view to the left, i.e. in that a snaplock ridge inside the nipple is pressed past a locking ridge on thedrinking tube 210. When desired or when the bottle is empty, thedrinking tube can be pressed back to its lower position so that itoccupies less space and can be disposed of as common plastic waste.Guiding ribs in the bottom part of the container prevents drinking tube210 and/or valve sleeve 260. These ribs also ensure that the drinkingtube 210 hits the centre and enters the centre hole in the container.The guiding ribs are drained by means of axial openings so that theampoule can be completely emptied.

The receiving device shown in FIGS. 1-9 can be a seal as described inconnection with the ampoule shown in FIGS. 14-17. It is of course alsopossible to provide a male part on the ampoule 200 and a female part onthe bottle 200. The receiving device 108 can alternatively comprise atip, a tube or a cannula suitable for penetrating or tearing a membranethat can comprise the seal 206.

As described above in connection with the reservoir chamber 120 and themixing chamber 140, it may in some cases be necessary to let air intothe ampoule 200 when the contents is emptied into the mixing chamber140. This air can advantageously be provided through the receivingdevice 108, so that the ampoule 200 can be manufactured as simple andinexpensive as possible, i.e. without an air inlet valve in eachampoule. However, in an alternative embodiment where the concentrate ispowder or where a membrane or foil is removed completely or partlybetween the ampoule and mixing chamber, it is not necessary to provide aseparate air inlet to the ampoule 200.

1. A drinking bottle having at least one liquid reservoir, at least onereplaceable substrate ampoule and means for breaking a liquid proof sealbetween the substrate ampoule and the liquid reservoir, whereincharacterised in that the substrate ampoule comprises a drinking tubewith a distal drinking nipple, where the drinking tube is disposedaxially displaceable in relation to the ampoule between an innerposition where liquid cannot flow from the liquid reservoir to theinterior of the drinking tube, and an outer position where liquid canflow from the liquid reservoir to the interior of the drinking tube. 2.The drinking bottle according to claim 1, wherein drinking tubecomprises at least one drinking valve adapted to close the drinking tubetemporarily.
 3. The drinking bottle according to claim 1, furthercomprising a top part releasable attached to a bottle body, where thetop part contains room(s) for at least one substrate ampoule.
 4. Thedrinking bottle according to claim 1, wherein the liquid reservoircomprises a mixing chamber disposed between a substrate ampoule and areservoir chamber.
 5. The drinking bottle according to claim 4, whereinthe mixing chamber is disposed within the top part.
 6. The drinkingbottle according to claim 4, wherein the mixing chamber is disposedwithin the bottle body.
 7. The drinking bottle according to claim 5,wherein a check valve is disposed between the reservoir chamber and themixing chamber, whereby the mixing chamber can be used to provide dosesof liquid.
 8. The drinking bottle according to claim 1, wherein theliquid reservoir has a flexible wall adapted to reduce the volume of theliquid reservoir, and where the liquid reservoir has an outlet forliquid.
 9. The drinking bottle according to claim 6, further comprisinga bottom part which is fluid tight affixed to the body and rotatablebetween an open position where a channel forms a fluid connectionbetween the reservoir chamber and the mixing chamber, and a closedposition where the channel does not form a fluid connection between thereservoir chamber and the mixing chamber.
 10. The drinking bottleaccording to claim 3, wherein the top part is rotatable relative to thebottle body about the main axis of the bottle body, whereby thesubstrate ampoule can be rotated to an opening to the liquid reservoir.11. The drinking bottle according to claim 1, wherein the seal is a partof the bottom of the substrate ampoule adapted to be opened by a forceapplied through the drinking tube.
 12. The drinking bottle according toclaim 1, wherein the substrate ampoule comprises a flexible and liquidproof bellow affixed to an outer surface of the drinking tube and to theouter shell of the substrate ampoule.
 13. The drinking bottle accordingto claim 1, wherein the substrate ampoule contains a filter and/or otherwater purification means.
 14. A method for providing a liquid withdesired quality in a drinking bottle for consumption, the methodcomprising: disposing at least one replaceable substrate ampoule in thedrinking bottle, filling at least one liquid reservoir with a desiredliquid, opening a seal between a substrate ampoule and the liquidreservoir, and pulling a drinking tube out of the ampoule.
 15. Themethod according to claim 14, wherein the step of filling the mixingchamber comprises manually opening and closing a fluid channel betweenthe reservoir chamber and the mixing chamber.
 16. The drinking bottleaccording to claim 6, wherein a check valve is disposed between thereservoir chamber and the mixing chamber, whereby the mixing chamber canbe used to provide doses of liquid.